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Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

Department of Civil Engineering
CEL212 Environmental Engineering (Second Semester 2013-14)
Experiment 5: Chemical Oxygen Demand

OBJECTIVE: To measure Chemical Oxygen Demand.

BACKGROUND AND PRINCIPLE:

The chemical oxygen demand (COD) determines the amount of oxygen required for
chemical oxidation of organic matter using a strong chemical oxidant, such as, potassium
dichromate under reflux conditions. This test is widely used to determine:
a) Degree of pollution in water bodies and their self-purification capacity,
b) Efficiency of treatment plants,
c) Pollution loads, and
d) Provides rough idea of Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) which can be used to
determine sample volume for BOD estimation.

The limitation of the test lies in its inability to differentiate between the biologically
oxidizable and biologically inert material and to find out the system rate constant of aerobic
biological stabilization.

Most of the organic matters are-destroyed when boiled with a mixture of potassium
dichromate and sulphuric acid producing carbon dioxide and water. A sample is refluxed with a
known amount of potassium dichromate in sulphuric acid medium and the excess of dichromate
is titrated against ferrous ammonium sulphate. The amount of dichromate consumed is
proportional to the oxygen required to oxidize the oxidizable organic matter.

SELECTION OF METHODS
There are two methods available for COD determination namely open reflux and closed
reflux.

Open Reflux Principle:

Suitable for a wide range of wastes with a large sample size.

Due to it higher oxidizing ability dichromate reflux method is preferred over other
procedures using other oxidants (e.g. potassium permanganate).
Oxidation of most organic compounds is up to 95-100% of the theoretical value.

Closed Reflux Principle:

This method is conducted with ampules and culture tubes with pre-measured
reagents.
Measurement of sample volume and reagent volume are critical.
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This method is economical in the use of metallic salt reagents and generate
smaller quantity of hazardous wastes.
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) gets completely oxidized in a closed system
than the open because of longer contact time with oxidants.

Chemical Reactions:

CnHaObNc+ d Cr2O72- + (8d+c) H+ => nCO2 +[(a+8d-3c)/2]H2O+c NH4+ +2dCr3+ (1)

Here d= (2n/3) + (a/6)-(b/3)-(c/2)

During experiment, excess dichromate concentration is determined by titrating it with ferrous

ammonium sulfate (FAS). The reaction is given by:

6Fe2+ + Cr2O72- + 14 H+ => 6Fe3++ 2Cr3+ +7H2O (2)

Here d= (2n/3) + (a/6)-(b/3)-(c/2)

SAMPLING AND HANDLING REQUIREMENTS

S. Determination Container Preservation Min Maximum Regulatory

N Technique Vol, storage
o ml Recommended

1. COD Plastic, Analyze as soon as 100 7 days 28 d

Glass possible , or add
H2SO4 to pH < 2;
refrigerate

REAGENTS:

Standard Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) digestion solution, 0.01667M:

Add to about 500 mL distilled water 4.903 g K2Cr2O7, primary standard grade,
previously dried at 150C for 2 h, 167 mL conc. H2SO4, and 33.3 g HgSO4. Dissolve,
cool to room temperature, and dilute to 1000 mL.

Sulfuric acid reagent:

Add H2SO4 at the rate of 5.5 g Ag2SO4/kg H2SO4 or 10.12 g silver sulphate/L
H2SO4. Let stand 1 to 2 d to dissolve and mix. This accelerates the oxidation of straight-
chain aliphatic and aromatic compounds.
(1 Kg = 543.47826 mL of H2 SO4 and take 20.24 g of Ag2SO4 to 2 L of H2
SO4 or 22.264 g of Ag2SO4 to 2.2 L of H2 SO4)

Ferroin Indicator solution:

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This indicator is used to indicate change in oxidation-reduction potential of the

solution and indicates the condition when all dichromate has been reduced by ferrous ion.
It gives a very sharp brown color change which can be seen in spite of blue color
generated by the Cr3+ ions formed on reduction of the dichromate.

Standard ferrous ammonium sulfate titrant (FAS), approximately 0.10M:

Dissolve 39.2 g Fe (NH4)2(SO4)2.6H2O in distilled water. Add 20 mL conc.

H2SO4, cool, and dilute to 1000 mL. Standardize solution daily against standard K2Cr2O7
digestion solution as follows: Pipet 5.00 mL digestion solution into a small beaker. Add 10 mL
reagent water to substitute for sample. Cool to room temperature. Add 1 to 2 drops diluted
Ferroin indicator and titrate with FAS titrant.

Molarity of FAS solution = [VK2Cr2O7 0.1] / (VFAS)

Where: VK2Cr2O7 = volume of K2Cr2O7 (mL); VFAS = volume of FAS (mL)

PROCEDURE:

1. Wash culture tubes and caps with 20% H2SO4 before using to prevent contamination.
2. Place sample (2.5 mL) in culture tube and Add K2Cr2O7 digestion solution (1.5 mL).
3. Carefully run sulphuric acid reagent (3.5 mL) down inside of vessel so an acid layer is
formed under the sample-digestion solution layer and tightly cap tubes or seal ampules,
and invert each several times to mix completely.
4. Place tubes in block digester preheated to 150C and reflux for 2 h behind a protective
shield.
5. Cool to room temperature and place vessels in test tube rack. Some mercuric sulfate may
precipitate out but this will not affect the analysis.
6. Add 1 to 2 drops of Ferroin indicator and stir rapidly on magnetic stirrer while titrating
with standardized 0.10 M FAS.
7. The end point is a sharp color change from blue-green to reddish brown, although the
blue green may reappear within minutes.
8. In the same manner reflux and titrate a blank containing the reagents and a volume of
distilled water equal to that of the sample.
9. COD is given by
COD (mg O2 /L) = [(A-B) M 8000) / (V sample)

Where: A = volume of FAS used for blank (mL)

B = volume of FAS used for sample (mL)
M = molarity of FAS
8000 = milli equivalent weight of oxygen (8) 1000 mL/L.
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ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ALSO:

1. Why do the COD analysis and BOD analysis give different results for the same waste?
2. What could be inferred from the following samples concerning the relative ease of
biodegradability: Sample A (5-d BOD/COD=24/30) and Sample B (5-d
BOD/COD=10/50)?

REFERENCE MATERIALS:
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1) AWWA, WEF, APHA, 1998, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and
Wastewater (Methods: 5220 C. Closed Reflux Titrimetric Method)

2) Sawyer, C.N., McCarty, P.L., and Parkin, G.F. 2000. Chemistry for Environmental
Engineering 4th Edition. Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited.
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Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

Department of Civil Engineering
CEL212 Environmental Engineering (Second Semester 2013-14)
Experiment 5: Dissolved Oxygen (4500-O. C. Azide Modification)

OBJECTIVES:
To determine Dissolved Oxygen (D.O) concentration in a water sample.

BACKGROUND AND PRINCIPLE:

The test was first developed by Lajos Winkler while working on his doctoral dissertation
in 1888. Dissolved oxygen (D.O) levels in environmental water depend on the physiochemical
and biochemical activities in water body and it is an important useful in pollution and waste
treatment process control.
D.O levels in natural waters and wastewaters depend on physical, chemical and
biological activities in water body. The solubility of atmospheric oxygen in fresh water ranges
from 14.6mg/L at 0C to about 7.0mg/L at 35C under normal atmospheric pressure. Since it is
poorly soluble gas, its solubility directly varies with the atmospheric pressure at any given
temperature.

SELECTION OF METHODS
Two methods are commonly used are iodometric method membrane electrode procedure.

Iodometric Method

Titration-based method which depends on oxidizing property of D.O

Oxygen present in sample rapidly oxidizes the dispersed divalent manganous
hydroxide to its higher valency, which is precipitated as a brown hydrated oxide
after the addition of NaOH / KOH and KI.
Upon acidification, manganese reverts to divalent state and liberates iodine from
KI equivalent to the original DO content.
The liberated iodine is titrated against Na2S2O3 (N/40) using starch as an indicator

Membrane Electrode Procedure

Which works based on the rate of diffusion of molecular oxygen across a

membrane.

Azide Modification (For nitrite-N < 0.05 mg/L and Ferrous iron<1 mg/L)

The azide modification is used to minimize the effect of interfering materials.

It removes interference caused by nitrite which is most commonly found
interference in biologically treated effluents and in incubated BOD samples.
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Chemical Reactions:

MnSO4 + 2 KOH Mn (OH)2 + K2SO4 (White Ppt : No D.O.)

2 Mn(OH)2 + O2 2 MnO (OH)2 (Brown Ppt)
MnO (OH )2 + 2KI + H2O Mn(OH)2 + I2 + 2KOH
I2 + 2S2O32- S4O62- + 2I-

SAMPLING AND HANDLING REQUIREMENTS

Determination Contai Preservation Min Maximum Regulatory

ner Technique Vol, storage
ml Recommen
ded

Electro Glass, Analyze 300 0.25 h 0.25 h

de BOD immediately
Bottle
Oxygen, Winkle Glass, Titration may be 300 8h 8h
Dissolved r BOD delayed after
Bottle acidification

REAGENTS:

Manganese Sulfate solution:

Dissolve 480 g MnSO4.4H2O, 400 g MnSO4.2H2O or 364 g MnSO4.H2O in

distilled water, filter, and dilute to 1L. The MnSO4 solution should not give a color with
starch when added to an acidified potassium iodide (KI) solution.

Alkali-iodide-azide Reagent:
a) For saturated or less than saturated samples: Dissolve 500g NaOH (or 700g KOH)
and 150g Kl (or 135g NaI) in distilled water and dilute to 1000mL. Add 10 g sodium
azide, NaN3 dissolved in 40 mL distilled water. This solution should not give colour
with starch solution when diluted and acidified.
b) For supersaturated samples: Dissolve 10g NaN3 in 500mL distilled water. Add
480g NaOH and 750g NaI and stir to dissolve the contents.

Sulfuric acid:
One mL is equivalent to ~ 3mL alkali-iodide-azide reagent.

Starch solution:
Dissolve 2 g laboratory-grade soluble starch and 0.2 g salicyclic acid as
preservative in 100 mL hot distilled water.
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Standard sodium thiosulfate titrant:

Dissolve 6.205 g Na2S2O3 .5H2O in distiller water and add 1.5 mL 6N NaOH or
0.4 g solid NaOH and dilute to 1000 mL. Standardize with bi-iodate solution.

PROCEDURE
1) Make dilution water by adding 2 mL/L of following reagents in distilled water:
a. Phosphate buffer solution
b. Magnesium sulfate solution
c. Calcium chloride solution
d. Ferric chloride solution
e. Sodium Sulfite solution
2) Collect sample in a BOD bottle using D.O sampler.
3) NOTE: Use separate pipettes of 2 ml capacity for each reagent and take care that tip of
the pipette in each case is dipped well below the liquid surfaces carefully.
a. Add 1mL MnSO4 followed by 1mL of alkali-iodide-azide reagent to a sample
collected in 250 to 300mL bottle up to the brim. The tip of the pipette should be
below the liquid level while adding these reagents. Stopper immediately. Rinse
the pipettes before putting them to reagent bottles.
b. Mix well by inverting the bottle 2-3 times and allow the precipitate to settle
leaving 150 mL clear supernatant. The precipitate is white if the sample is devoid
of oxygen, and becomes increasingly brown with rising oxygen content.
4) At this stage, add 1mL conc. H2SO4.
5) Replace the stopper and mix well till precipitate goes into solution.
6) Take 201 mL of this solution in a conical flask and titrate against std. Na2S2O3 soln.
7) Add 2 drops of starch indicator and continue to titrate till the color of the solution
becomes either colorless or changes to its original sample color.
8) Note down volume of 0.025N sodium thiosulfate consumed.
9) As 1 mL of sodium thiosulfate of 0.025N equals to 1 mg/L dissolved oxygen.
10) Dissolved oxygen (D.O) (in mg/L) = mL of sodium thiosulfate (0.025N) consumed.
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ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ALSO (for Submission with Lab report):

1. What precautions do you need to take during DO measurement in raw wastewater sample?
Hint: This sample can have both oxidizing and reducing agents.

REFERENCE MATERIAL:
AWWA, WEF, APHA, 1998, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and
Wastewater
Sawyer, C. N., McCarty, P. L., and Parkin, G. F. 2000. Chemistry for Environmental
Engineering. Fourth Edition, McGraw-Hill, Inc., New York.
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++++++++Additional Question (Not for Submission) +++++++

QA1. Compute ultimate BOD and oxygen consumption rate constant using the following data
for a stream receiving treated effluent.
Time (days) BOD exerted at time t (Yt)
2 11
4 18
6 22
8 24
10 26

Q2. To determine BOD of a sample, three dilutions of the samples are made (BOD bottle
volume=300mL). In the BOD dilution water (without sample), initial DO=0 (blank). All samples
are incubated at 20C for 5 days. Look at the following data and calculate 5-day BOD value of
the sample at 15C?
t-day BOD= [DOt-DO0]/(P) (1)
where P= Dilution factor = 300mL/(sample volume in mL)

Bottle no. Wastewater sample (mL) Initial DO (mg/L) (DO0) DO at 5-day (mL) (DO5)
1 20 8.9 1.5
2 10 9.1 2.5
3 5 9.2 5.8
4 2 9.2 7.5